Thursday, January 19, 2017

A friend of mine has a sister who is undergoing extenisive treatment for cancer. Her family and friends are holding a fundraiser and as part if it there will be a silent auction.

So on the design wall is a quilt I hope to finish in the next couple of days so it can be in the auction. I will finish at baby/toddler size.

Cutting and sewing with the broken finger has been a challenge. Starting off with a jelly roll and some strips from the 2-1/2 inch bin helped a lot! I actually have enough to make a second one for the guild's silent auction next fall!

Sunday, January 15, 2017

I'm learning that typing with a broken baby finger is tough...heck a lot of things are tough! (washing dished one handed...the worst!)

But I have a deadline to get the kits out to the guild members for our 2018 donation quilt so past couple of days I've been cutting fabric very slowly and carefully!

We are making Kaffe Fasset's Vases and Bowls. Naively I thought working with a kit would make the process faster and easier then last year when I drafted a pattern and we picked out the fabrics ourselves. I was wrong.

I have a pile of leftover fabric...which makes me nervous...sort of like when you put together flat-pack furniture and have extra screws and bits left over. You wonder if the furniture will collapse the first time it is used!

The there are the fabrics that there is no-way you can get all the pieces required cut from it! I made multiple templates and laid them out on the fabric...not going to work! Went online and ordered another 1/2 yard. That is also the challenge - the local quilt shops do not carry much if any Kaffee. Closest is s 2 hour drive!

I am close to halfway with the kitting...now what to do with all these pretty bits of leftovers?!

Monday, January 09, 2017

Here is the continuation of yesterday's post on the new-to-me quilts. Did discover something last night as I was going through photos...all five quilts have a pint print backing. Different fabrics but all pink fabrics! Another reason I believe they may have been made by the same quilter.

So here is Quilt #4...a hst on diagonal. Doesn't it have a great contemporary feel to it! I think it is circa 1950...

Close-up of Q-4, the grey makes it look modern no?

Like the other quilts it has a lot of pink in the backing!

Q-5 is another simple one-patch. This one is the smallest in the bunch - 39x57 inches.

I think it is circa 1940. It has some fun fabrics and a few are in one of the hexagon quilts (another hint they were made by the same quilter!)

Yup...pink backing! Binding back to front...

Watson is guarding the quilts but also thinks I am spending too much time with them!

Sunday, January 08, 2017

"We are going to throw out a bag of quilts"...that is how the phone call started today. I have helped this particular store a few times in the past when they were unsure of what they had. Today the manager had told the guy that they had too much on the floor and to throw these old things out. So before the tossed them he called...I'm so glad he did!

There are five quilts. All made around 1930-1940. All are in good condition. One has a repair that was done well. So they aren't museum quality but they don't deserve to be tossed!

Q-2 twin size hexagon

Q-2 close-up

Q-2 backing

I am debating on calling the two twin size hexagon quilts a pair...they are very close in size, the hexies are the same size, and some of the fabrics are the same. So what is holding me back? The backings are different and Q-2 has some fabrics from the 1910 while Q-3 is only 1930's fabric.

Q-3 twin size hexagon, scrappy

Q-2 close-up

Q-2 backing

I'll show the other two quilts in my next post! These don't really fit with my plans for my collection but I couldn't leave them to an ugly fate....

Saturday, January 07, 2017

We don't get snow often here in this part of Georgia so when the meteorologists forecast the white stuff things go just a bit crazy!

My After Christmas Sales Santa....

Me...I'm from New England so my emergency cabinet is always stocked! I have water, extra batteries, a coffee maker that I can use in my fireplace, lots of pet-food, and canned soup/stuff. So if need be I can hunker down for a good long while. Of course...here in the south snow only sticks around a day or so...maybe I've overdone it?

But just two years ago we had an ice storm that left us without power for 5 days! So maybe I'll go check on my vintage hand-crank machine that allowed me to still sew on those cold, dark days!

A photo of my Mom on skis sometime in the late 1940's in Dorchester, MA

As of yet...no snow. Lots of rain, lots of cold winds, but no snow. I'm ok with that.

Today I'm taking it easy...tracing some applique shapes off onto freezer-paper so we can kit up our next donation quilt and maybe fold some fabric.

or maybe just dream of future quilts...I got this new book "My Quilting Legacy" for Christmas. Wonderful book. Great quilts, beautiful photos and what looks to be good instructions. I'll let you know on the latter when I finally make up my mind which quilt to make first!

Thursday, January 05, 2017

A few months ago my friend Paula and I exchanged quilts. Paula made a Sue Spargo design but added a lot of her own ideas to it. I had made candy corn - a take on a vintage Southern Top I bought at a country auction in South Carolina.

I'm embarrassed to say it has taken me this long to get it up on the wall!

On the left is the quilt I made and on the right is the Paula made

In my defense this quilt is made from wool, silk and cottons with lots of embellishment. So I didn't want the quilt to get sunlight...didn't want it to be near any vents where it could get moisture or dust. And on top of that it is a mid sized quilt so need a decent amount of wall space.

Add to that I wanted folks to see it when they visit the house...phew.

So now this quilt hangs in the hallway off of the dining-room. You can glimpse it from the front foyer so perhaps it will pull visitors into the house?!

Tuesday, January 03, 2017

Have you set any goals or resolutions for 2017? I'm still working on mine...

One that I was considering was getting all my vintage sewing machines in order or out the door. I only want to hold on to the ones that are either "beautiful or useful." - W. Morris.

So far the progress isn't good. I took out my green Necchi to give it a good going over. Then I realized I hadn't put the plastic cloth on the table. So I moved the Necchi (not a small task as it weighs a ton...ok, not a ton but more than I want to lift!) I put the cloth on the table then the Watson barks at the back door so I go to let him in and what do I do? Trip over the Nicchi breaking my toe (btw...the Nicchi is so heavy it didn't tip over when I kicked it!)

Urgh! So I am starting 2017 with blue, gray and green toes. Not a great quilt inspiration. This Nicchi may be looking for a new home!

On the up side I am making a list of quilts I am going to finish this year.

This pattern is in Bonnie Hunter's new book. Believe it is a Carolina Chain...but since my foot is elevated I can't confirm that right now! I have backing for this already so it is making progress!

About Me

AQS certified Quilt Appraiser and lecturer. For over 25 years I have been collecting quilts and making my interpretation of them. I'll try any type of handwork from applique through red-work to piecing.